Out to the black Chapter 12

Disclaimer: Joss, Fox, Universal Own em’. I’m just playing. No money being made.

This is my first Fan Fic ever. Constructive reviews are shiny.

This fic takes place two years after Serenity (BDM) and has the established couples of Simon/Kaylee and Mal/Inara along with a Jayne/River friendship. Might become Rayne later… Maybe, Maybe not

Out to the black

Chapter Twelve – Discoveries

Allan tossed and turned all night, the images and sensations of Zoë kissing him running through his mind. After several hours his exhaustion finally took over and he fell into a fitful sleep.

In what seemed like only twenty minutes, Allan was awoken by a knock on his door. Rolling over to look at the clock he realized it was 7:30 in the morning. Grumbling he called out, “I’m up, give me a sec.”

Dressing quickly, including his gun. Allan slid the door open to find River outside holding a steaming cup of coffee in her left hand, a sling still on her right arm.

“Thought you might need this,” the young pilot said, “breakfast is almost ready.”

“Thanks River,” Allan smiled back.

Taking the cup, Allan followed River out of the dorms. As he passed the infirmary, Allan looked inside. Seeing the Captain was awake, he paused a moment, “I’ll be up in a minute River, Gonna talk to Mal a second.”

“Very well, but do not mention you and Zoë last night, “She said quietly.

Allan’s eyes narrowed, “How did… oh yeah,” Allan said as comprehension set in.

“Not to worry, our secret,” River grinned at the older man, “She’s as confused as you are if it helps any.”

“You playing matchmaker there Kiddo?”

Smiling sweetly, River replied, “Just Inara and myself at the moment…” She paused for effect, “But once we get Kaylee involved… you are dead meat.”

River turned suddenly and skipped away giggling. Allan groaned.

Finding the need for some male company, Allan stuck his head through the infirmary doors, “Morning Mal, How ya’ feeling?”

“Been worse, been better. Seems my person has a penchant for attractin’ lead,” Mal said with a slight grin.

“Someone did mention that you seem to get shot quite often”

“Who said that?” Mal asked slightly miffed.

“Everybody,” Allan said grinning.

Letting out a snort, Mal muttered something about no respect for the captain.

Mal looked at Allan, “Seems like I owe you a debt for saving the ship and River… Again I might add.”

Sipping at his almost forgotten coffee, Allan held up his hand, “Don’t think on it. Like you said, I’m crew now. I take care of my shipmates. Speaking of that, I’ll be back in a moment.”

Turning Allan rushed back to his room. Quickly, he grabbed one of the two money filled backpacks and made his way back to the infirmary. Allan set the pack on Mal’s lap.

“What’s this?” the Captain asked.

“It’s a loan until you can convert one of those gold bars I gave you to cash.”

“Huh?”

“Zoë and I exchanged some smaller bars I had as well as some gemstones before all the excitement happened yesterday,” Allan said smiling.

Mal’s eyes widened, “How… how much?” he stammered.

“Ballpark figure, there’s about a million credits in that pack you’re holding. Seems gold is worth quite a bit more in these parts then back on Earth.”

Mal’s mouth opened…and closed. Then opened again. He couldn’t form a coherent thought, his eyes moving from the pack to Allan and back again.

Inara entered at that moment, carrying a tray with Mal’s breakfast. Seeing the look on her lover’s face, she quickly set the tray down and moved to Mal’s side, taking his hand in hers, “Mal! What’s wrong?”

“Sorry Inara,” Allan chuckled, “I think I broke his brain.”

Inara shot Allan a sharp look, fire in her eyes.

Mal finally got his mouth working. “A million credits?”

“Around that, haven’t counted what’s in that particular pack. Got another just as full back in my bunk. Minus what I threw into the crowd back on Aberdeen to distract the two Fed’s guarding the ship.”

“Allan what are you talking about?” Inara asked.

Mal handed her the backpack, “Look inside, I can’t bring myself to do it just yet,” Mal said quietly, “Think I might just be hallucinatin’.”

Taking the pack, Inara unzipped the top and peered inside…

“Merciful Buddha!” She exclaimed as she closed the pack as quickly as she had opened it.

Allan laughed at the dumbfounded couple, “Best I can figure, those three bars I gave you a couple of days ago ought to be worth about thirty million credits… give or take. Don’t worry, I’ve still got about fifty kilograms more in my case. I’m not poor by a long shot. Seems the gold was a good investment. It was only worth about fifteen million dollars when I left.”

Mal looked like he was going to faint, Inara stood in shock. Regaining some composure, Inara strode to Allan and kissed him firmly and quickly. Turning back she then kissed Mal a bit more intimately.

“Damn. Seems like that’s going on a lot around here.”

“What’s that?” Inara said smiling.

“The kissing… Zoë damn near sucked my tonsils out last night…” Allan cut himself off, “Crap!” he thought to himself.

Mal shot Allan a hard look. The older man suddenly looked like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Inara smiled at Allan and then turned to scowl at Mal. Seeing her expression, Mal shook his head and chuckled softly.

“Damn, If’n I was Sly I’d be inclined to kiss you myself, “ Mal said.

“Zoë said something along those lines herself,” Allan replied.

Suddenly feeling the need to escape, Allan decided on a strategic withdrawal, “Guess I’ll go get some breakfast…Uh, Later, you two.” He said, nearly running from the infirmary.

“Somethin goin on between my First Mate and my co-pilot?” Mal asked Inara after Allan left, an edge in his voice.

“You’re hallucinating Bao-bei”

“Yeah, like I’m hallucinatin’ bout’ all this here cashy money.”

Sighing, Inara knew she was going to have to win this argument for Allan’s sake. Taking a deep breath, she looked Mal in the eyes, “Zoë is feeling an attraction to Allan,” She said, holding up her hand to stop Mal’s retort, “She likes him. They are both adults. Zoë is still confused about what she feels anyway. Let Zoë figure things out by herself… And keep your nose out of it,” she finished glaring at Mal.

Mal looked down, conceding defeat, for the moment, “If he hurts her…”

“Zoë will break him in half before you even know about it,” Inara finished.

“Okay Nara, I concede that point. Now can I please have my breakfast?

Smiling, the former companion brought the tray to Mal. Kissing him on the cheek as he began to eat.

XXXXXX

“Mornin’ Allan,” Kaylee chirped as the older man entered the galley.

“Hey Kaylee,” He replied. Spying Zoë already at the table, Allan smiled at her, “Good Morning Zoë.”

A slight smile curled her lips, “Mornin'…” she looked at Allan, noting the bags under his eyes, “You look a bit tired this morning.”

“Had trouble sleeping.”

“Me too.”

Allan started at that, turning a bit red. Trying to change the subject, Allan spoke again, “I gave one of the backpacks to Mal this morning.”

“What was his reaction?” Zoë asked, appreciating the sudden change of direction, glad that her skin color didn’t show a blush that well.

“Broke his brain,” River chirped from her spot further down the table.

“What?” Simon exclaimed, looking up from his eggs.

Laughing, Allan said, “Not to worry Doc, just surprised him a bit. Suppose he’ll tell you all about it later.”

“For the best,” Zoë agreed.

Simon relaxed and went back to his breakfast. The crew continued eating mostly in silence, the stress of the last twenty-four hours showing. Even Kaylee was a bit subdued. The one thing the young mechanic noticed were the furtive glances between Zoë and Allan. A look of puzzlement on her face she locked her gaze with Zoë.

Serenity’s First Mate looked Kaylee in the eye and mouthed the words “Later Mei-mei.”

Idea’s formulating in her mind, Kaylee turned to Allan, “You gonna want to work on that weird gizmo later Allan?”

“In a bit Kaylee,” he replied. Turning to Zoë, Allan asked, “Okay if I go on the cortex? I need to look some things up. I think I know how that thing works but I need some more information.”

“Sure Allan,” Zoë replied, “River can give you a hand.”

“Thanks.”

“Hey Gramps,” Jayne said from further down the table.

Allan chuckled, “I ain’t that old Jayne, what, do you need?”

The big man laughed, and then seemed to get a bit nervous, “You had a chance to clean your gun after yesterday?”

“Not yet,” Allan smiled, knowing what Jayne wanted, “Let me guess, you’re offering your services for cleaning my Colt?”

“Well… If’n you’re not ‘posed to lettin’ me…”

Allan laughed, “Okay Jayne, you can clean it. I appreciate the offer. Just be careful. It was my Grandfathers gun, hand built by a master gunsmith,” Allan said as he smoothly pulled the gun from his holster, removing the clip and then ejecting the round in the chamber. Allan laid the gun on the table. The grin splitting Jayne’s face was surprising.

“Thanks Allan… Think sometime you’d let me shoot it? I’d let ya use Vera in trade…”

“No problem Jayne,” Allan replied. Standing, to leave the table, he turned to River, “Miss Tam, would you care to accompany me to the bridge?” Allan said bowing slightly

“Certainly Mr. Bryant,” River replied with a giggle, “Lead the way.”

As the pair left the room, Jayne carefully picked up Allan’s gun like it was a newborn, Turning to leave he said, “I’ll be in my bunk.”

Kaylee rose to start collecting the dirty dishes, Simon helping her. Looking at Zoë, she finally said, “Ok Zoë, spill it!”

“Spill what Kaylee?”

“Don’t you Kaylee me, missy,” Kaylee said like a mother to a petulant child. “I heard you and Allan sayin you’s both didn’t sleep well… And I saw’s the way you two been lookin' at’s each other.”

“Kaylee…”

“Shut up Simon.”

Simon returned to doing the dishes, trying to pretend he wasn’t in the room.

“Nothing’s going on Kaylee,” Zoë said smiling at her friend, “Yet…”

“So, there might be a…yet?” Kaylee asked, hopeful.

“Maybe… I don’t know.”

“Do you want there to be a maybe?” she asked the Amazon

“I think so,” Zoë replied quietly, deep in thought.

A huge smile broke across the mechanics face, “Need’s any help?”

Zoë laughed, “I think I got it girl. Just need some time to suss it out”

“You sure? I mean, anyone else know ‘bought it?”

“Inara has a suspicion, River I’m sure knows…”

Kaylee, giggled, “Well now, since all us girl folk on the ship know, Allan don’t stand’s a chance.”

“Kaylee…” Zoë warned.

“Come on, it’ll be fun, jus’ like when we teamed up to get Inara an’ the Captain ta’ gether.”

“I’m not so sure…”

“Not gonna do nothin untoward, Zoë, Jest feel the waters for ya a bit. Make sure Allan’s likes ya back is all,” Kaylee said mischief showing in her eyes.

“All right Kaylee,” Zoë conceded, knowing she wasn’t going to win.

“Good, now as for you…” Kaylee said turning to Simon,” You let Allan know what’s up and I won’t let’s you touch me for a week” she finished sternly.

“Kaylee…” Simon protested.

“A week.”

“Okay,” Simon said quietly, trying to figure out how he got stuck in the middle of all this.

Smiling again, Kaylee kissed Simon, brightening his expression “Now you scoot and see ta’ the Captain. Send Nara up here, we got strategizin ta’ do”

Shaking his head with a slight smile, Simon said, “Yes, Ma’am,” and left the room, suddenly feeling very sorry for Allan.

XXXXXXXXXXX

Allan sat in the co-pilot's chair, looking at the cortex. He had several searches running simultaneously. The distances of space made some take longer than others since the required data was further away. Allan marveled at the system. The cortex seemed a conglomeration of Earth’s Internet, telephone system, cable TV and satellite radio. On one screen Allan had his data searches running and on the other, a news broadcast.

River sat in the pilot’s chair, entering data into the navigational system one handed. Looking across the bridge, she noticed a commercial playing on the cortex. Suddenly shutting her eyes, and covering them with her hand, she shouted at Allan.

“Mute the audio now!”

Quickly hitting a key on his keyboard, Allan killed the audio. “What’s the matter River?”

“Just let me know when it’s over,” she said through clenched teeth.

“Okay,” Allan said, still confused.

A moment later the news broadcast came back on. Allan looked over at River, who seemed to be shivering, “It’s over now,” he said, leaving the audio off for the moment.

River seemed to relax a bit. Uncovering her eyes, she looked at Allan, “My fault. Didn’t engage the advertisement filter before you went on the cortex.”

“Why a filter?”

“Blue Sun used subliminal messages in their commercials. They were tuned to trigger my implanted programming. Last time that happened, I took out an entire bar, including Jayne. I killed several innocent people… Nearly shot the Captain before Simon put me out with my safe word.” River finished, sadness on her face. “Since they are actively seeking me, I must assume that they are using the messages again.”

“A safe word?”

“A phrase that when spoken, puts me to sleep for several hours. Intended to protect my captors from me, should I get out of control.”

Allan’s jaw clenched, anger boiling in his mind, “River, if I can ever find a way to pay those bastards back for what they did to you… I will.”

Smiling sweetly at the older man, River replied, “I will hold your hat.”

Allan laughed at the girl, “I was thinking more along the lines of you holding a sniper rifle.”

“That works as well.”

The cortex beeped at Allan, his search completed, turning back to the screen he began to read the text. River meanwhile entered a few commands into the system, blocking commercials. River rose and moved behind Allan, looking at the data he had accumulated.

“What are you looking for?” She asked.

“Information about the interaction of electromagnetic signals and brain waves.” Allan said quietly, eye’s scanning the data, “The device those bastards had used several transmitters of some kind and a receiver. It also had a highly directional, high power ultrasonic emitter as well. At close range it has the power to rupture blood vessels.”

“It is how they usually kill.” River said simply.

Allan growled, thinking of how painful and messy that kind of death was. Taking a deep breath, he continued, ”My theory is that the device can dampen, eliminate or mimic certain brainwave functions…”

River’s eyes lit up, “Of course!” she said excitedly, “A device that can transmit a signal that mimics certain brainwaves. That would explain why Simon was rendered unconscious when it was in operation.”

“Yes,” Allan replied, also excited, “And I bet that it can also detect brainwaves and then retransmit them out of phase… Kind of like active noise reduction where the signals cancel one another out…”

“Which explains why I couldn’t read them,” River finished, almost laughing.

“Exactly,” Allan agreed, “And with that knowledge, between you, me and Kaylee, we should be able to come up with some kind of scrambler or jammer that will, cancel out the damn thing.”

“We will need to procure parts off ship to construct a scrambler,” River said.

“I think we can afford to buy parts. Think they will have what we need on Boros?”

“Possibly, we will have to design it first, but I have the beginnings of something in my head,” the young genius said.

“I have no doubt’s there kiddo.”

Something caught Allan’s eye on the news broadcast still muted on the screen, turning up the volume, the pair heard something about gold.

“…And in financial news. Gold prices plummeted today after the announcement by Blue Sun’s mining division of a huge gold strike on Haven. Described as larger than the South African, California and Klondike gold finds from Earth that was, combined. Prices for gold dropped to ten percent of yesterdays value. Experts concede that prices will probably rise once the initial market shock wears off, but will not rise to previous levels. In other news…”

Allan killed the feed, “Shit!”

River looked at him, feeling his disappointment even though she wasn’t trying to read her friend

“That bad?”

“Guess I’m not quite a wealthy as I was yesterday, Leave it to my old company to screw me over… even four hundred years later. At least we got a good price for the gold I exchanged yesterday.”

“If you have noticed, good luck does not follow this crew overmuch.”

“Let’s see, in the little over a week I’ve been here there’s been in two gunfights and over half the crew has been injured, rendered unconscious or shot…”

“A quiet week in actuality,” River giggled.

“I hate to see what you guys call a busy week.”

Suddenly somber, River said, “You’re right, you don’t want to see a bad week.”

“On to more pleasant topics,” River said continuing, a gleam of mischief in her eyes, “What about you and Zoë? Did she kiss well?”

River’s only response was a groan and the sound of Allan banging his head on the console…

TBC